Sterilizer for hypodermic needles



Sept. 5, 1944.

A. w. sun-u. STERILIZER FOR HYPODERMIC NEEDLES Filed Aug.. 19, 1942 ARTHUR 14/. 52mm H INVENTOR.

BY W ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 5, 1944 STERILIZER FOR HYPODERMIC NEEDLES Arthur W. Stahl, Denver, Colo., assignor to Eisele & Company, Nashville, Tenn., a. corporation Application August 19, 1942, Serial No. 4 155,293

4 Claims.

My invention consists of an improvement in means for sterilizing hypodermic needles.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of means for passing the needles through the sterilizing medium in sequence so that each needle will be completely sterilized before being withdrawn, the first needle placed in the solution being the first one withdrawn and so on, the order of withdrawal being the'same as the order of placing the needles in the sterilizing medium.

Another object of my invention is the provision of compact means for containing the needles and for causing them to enter, pass through and emerge from the sterilizing medium ready for reuse.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means for removing the soiled needle from the hypodermic and for positioning the sterilized needle at a convenient angle for receiving the tip of the syringe without any of the needles being touched by anything except the tip of the syringe.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a device as above set forth which is simple and cheap to manufacture, which contains no moving parts and which is not likely to get out of order.

These and other objects of my invention will be more apparent from an examination of the following detailed description and claims together with the accompanying drawing which shows a preferred embodiment of my invention and in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of the device;

Figure 2 is a plan view; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing the numeral [0 denotes an upper plate at one end of which is formed the rectangular aperture H and at the other end of which is formed the rectangular notch 12. A tab or clamp member l3 depends from one side of plate ID for the purpose of clamping the device to the side wall M of a suitable sterilizing vessel containing a suitable sterilizing medium such as alcohol, boiling water or the like, to a level 15. v

Depending from the proximal edges of aperture l l and notch I2 is the semi-circular member l6 of thin fiat cross-section and depending from the distal edges of aperture II and notch I2 is a second semi-circular member I! parallel to member l6, spaced therefrom and having an upwardly turned edge 18.

Members l6 and I! as thus formed comprise, together with the wall of the sterilizing container,

hands.

a track or raceway for containing and guiding through the sterilizing medium the hypodermic needles I!) which lie in the raceway with their axes parallel to each other, the cannulae of the needles extending through the space between member I6 and the upturned edge I 8 of member I1.

In operation the device is placed in a suitable sterilizer and the level of the sterilizing medium such as boiling water, hot oil, alcohol or the like brought to approximately the line l5. The raceway is completely filled with needles which are sterilized. After a needle has been used it is inserted, while still on the syringe, into' the notch I2, the edges of which act as a wrench and a twisting motion of the syringe removes the needle therefrom and it is pushed down into the raceway. This moves each needle forward in the raceway the width of one needle and causes the needle adjacent the aperture II to be ejected therefrom. The bridge 20 across the end of aperture ll catches the front end of the needle hub while the rear end is forced up, thus causing the needle to assume the inclined position best seen in Figure 3. This position is very convenient for the insertion of the syringe tip into the needle hub and the edges of aperture l I act as a wrench to hold the hub from turning as the syringe tip i is forced into it with a slight twisting motion, all without touching the needle by the operators It will thus be seen that I have provided a needle sterilizing device which acts as a tool for the removal of the used needle from the syringe, which provides a holder which maintains the needle in sequence as it guides them through the sterilizing medium so that each needle must traverse the entire path in its proper order and thus be completely sterilized before it is removed, which protects the points of the cannulae from being dulled by contact with hard objects, which places the next needle to be used in the proper position for the insertion of the syringe tip, and which acts as a wrench for tightening the needle on the tip, all without the needle ever being touched by the operators hands.

I claim as my invention:

l. A sterilizing apparatus for hypodermic needles comprising a depending arcuate raceway through which the needles are moved and means comprising a bridge member across the exit of said raceway for tipping the emergent needle to an angle convenient for th reception of a syringe tip.

2. A sterilizing apparatus for hypodermic neeoFFicE I g dles comprising an upper plate having a notch at 7 one end and an aperture at the other; depending, spaced, arcuate members joining said notch and aperture to form a raceway through which the needles may be moved into and out of a suitable sterilizing medium; and clamping means for holding said apparatus in place in a sterilizing container.

3. A sterilizing apparatus for hypodermic needles comprising an :upper plate having openings at each end thereof; depending, spaced, arcuate members joining said openings and forming a raceway through which hypodermic needles may be passed; and means comprising a bridge member across the exit opening of said raceway for causing the emergent needle to be tipped at an angle.

4. A sterilizing apparatus for hypodermic nee- 

